about 170,000 people in khan younis have been warned to leave for safety. but a spokesman for the un children's charity unicef says there's nowhere safe for people to go. israel denies they're trying to permanently push palestinians out of gaza. the israeli bombardments on khan younis and rafah are continuing with strikes on both southern cities on monday. there are reports that dozens of israeli tanks have been seen near khan younis. hamas is considered a terrorist organisation by the us and uk governments — and israel says hamas fighters are hiding in the south. for more now, yolande knell has this report. still smouldering, the aftermath of the latest israeli strikes in khan younis. as israel widens its offensive in gaza, it is telling people from parts of this southern city to evacuate. and stepping up its bombardment. early today, more palestinian families were left devastated. already displaced from his home in the centre of the strip, mohammed now lines up opposite the bodies of his loved ones to mourn. translation: we were sleeping l safely, minding our own business. suddenly, a bomb fell on us and the whole building was destroyed. my brother was torn into pieces and so was his wife. my daughter was killed, and his daughters were killed, including his littlest. we can't find my mum and my niece. the resumption of fighting in gaza after a week long truce between israel and hamas collapsed has already led to hundreds of civilian casualties, and expressions of international concern. but israel's military is warning that its operations against hamas in the south of gaza will be of no less strength than those in the north. it says it has found some 800 hamas tunnels since the start of this war and has destroyed more than half. israel's ultimate aim is to destroy hamas. meanwhile, hamas says it won't talk about another hostage release without a permanent ceasefire. for relatives of israelis still being held in gaza, these are frightening times. today at a news conference, they called on ministers to speak to them. we are facing a very difficult emotional situation, where the heavy disaster along with this ominous silence has led 136 families to despair. due to the breach of the ceasefire by hamas, we request a meeting with the war cabinet to receive updates on the fate of our family members now. now, not tomorrow. now. back in khan younis, israel is determined to advance, believing there may be top hamas leaders hiding below ground. yet, as it directs its focus here, there are big complications. the possible presence of israeli hostages, as well as hundreds of thousands of palestinians running out of places to flee to. let me show the live pictures looking into the gaza strip from southern israel, and those pictures showing the plumes of smoke as israel continues with its renewed offensive after the breakdown of that ceasefire. live now to mark regev, senior adviser to the israeli prime minister. welcome to the programme. let me start by reading a quote from one palestinian man who said he was asleep in an area they told us was safe, at 1020 destroy the entire block. there is no safe area, they are liars. they say it is safe and then they bomb. how do you respond to an everyday example of that being the real—life experience? i to an everyday example of that being the real-life experience?— the real-life experience? i have no doubt that there _ the real-life experience? i have no doubt that there is _ the real-life experience? i have no doubt that there is human - the real-life experience? i have no i doubt that there is human suffering. every war brings human suffering, but i urge you to be cautious with those sort of reports coming out of hamas —controlled territory. hamas isn't a democracy, is a brutal dictatorship and people who don't follow their line, either don't talk, and they do, they pay a price. anybody who is sending you messages has to follow the party line. it is all israel's fold, according to hamas, blowing up buildings for the reason. that is what they want to you here. i reason. that is what they want to ou here. _, . ~ reason. that is what they want to ou here. _, ,., . ~ ., ., you here. i will come back to that, but i've seen _ you here. i will come back to that, but i've seen the _ you here. i will come back to that, but i've seen the grid _ you here. i will come back to that, but i've seen the grid you - you here. i will come back to that, but i've seen the grid you have - but i've seen the grid you have published. 0ne but i've seen the grid you have published. one group has described as turning life into a macabre game of battleships. it is about 15 blocks around khan younis you have told people to leave. how many people is that, and how long are you giving them to get out? this people is that, and how long are you giving them to get out?— giving them to get out? this is part of israel's ever _ giving them to get out? this is part of israel's ever to _ giving them to get out? this is part of israel's ever to safeguard - giving them to get out? this is part of israel's ever to safeguard the - of israel's ever to safeguard the civilian population, who we don't want to see caught up in the crossfire between the idf and the hamas terrorists. we are urging them to leave areas of expected combat. as you have said, we aren't talking about the entire city of khan younis, we are talking about specific neighbourhoods whether it is hamas infrastructure, tunnels, arsenals... it is hamas infrastructure, tunnels, arsenals- - -_ arsenals... it is a large block. roughly. _ arsenals... it is a large block. roughly. how— arsenals... it is a large block. roughly, how many _ arsenals... it is a large block. roughly, how many people i arsenals... it is a large block. l roughly, how many people are arsenals... it is a large block. - roughly, how many people are you expecting to move, and how long have they got before those areas are targeted question i won't tell you exactly when we move, that would be a mistake, hamas would hear us. the? a mistake, hamas would hear us. they should move — a mistake, hamas would hear us. they should move as — a mistake, hamas would hear us. tue: should move as quickly a mistake, hamas would hear us. tte: should move as quickly as a mistake, hamas would hear us. tt21: should move as quickly as they can, but they have enough time. we have designated areas they can move to. we do not see the civilian population as a target, on the contrary. we are making a maximum effort to safeguard them, to tell them to leave areas of combat. we don't want to see them caught up in the crossfire. you don't want to see them caught up in the crossfire-— the crossfire. you keep saying you are making _ the crossfire. you keep saying you are making a _ the crossfire. you keep saying you are making a maximum _ the crossfire. you keep saying you are making a maximum effort. - the crossfire. you keep saying you | are making a maximum effort. just are making a maximum effort. just saying it doesn't mean it's true. tt is true. you will see israel, the military compares very well, when compared to other countries when they have four terrors in built—up areas. if you compare the ratio of civilians caught up in the crossfire with western forces in place like volusia, we will compare surprisingly welcomes a c the numbers. tit surprisingly welcomes a c the numbers-— numbers. in terms of your objectives. _ numbers. in terms of your objectives, is _ numbers. in terms of your objectives, is to _ numbers. in terms of your objectives, is to destroy . numbers. in terms of your - objectives, is to destroy hamas or gaza? to objectives, is to destroy hamas or gaza? ., , . ., objectives, is to destroy hamas or gaza? ., , ., �* , gaza? to destroy hamas. because it will be better— gaza? to destroy hamas. because it will be better off _ gaza? to destroy hamas. because it will be better off without _ gaza? to destroy hamas. because it will be better off without hamas. - will be better off without hamas. such as areas of iraq were controlled by isis are better off. we are showing pictures of motor destruction in khan younis, andrew seen similar in the north. are you sure it is for the betterment of the palestinians? t sure it is for the betterment of the palestinians?— palestinians? i would ask you the followin: palestinians? i would ask you the following question. _ palestinians? i would ask you the following question. hamas - palestinians? i would ask you the following question. hamas has i palestinians? i would ask you the i following question. hamas has been in power for following question. hamas has been in powerfor 16 following question. hamas has been in power for 16 years, following question. hamas has been in powerfor 16 years, and what is their record of government? they have brought misery, bloodshed, tragedy and poverty. surely the people of gaza deserve better than this extreme terrorist organisation that doesn't give a hoot for them. hamas have to take responsibility. i am cindy asking if you are taking responsibility for what you taken —— i am simply. hospitals are overwhelmed, you listen to workers on the ground saying nowhere is safe. i am asking for you to take responsibility for the actions you are carrying out. t responsibility for the actions you are carrying out.— are carrying out. i don't accept nowhere is _ are carrying out. i don't accept nowhere is safe. _ are carrying out. i don't accept nowhere is safe. we _ are carrying out. i don't accept nowhere is safe. we have - are carrying out. i don't accept - nowhere is safe. we have designated safe zones. if you ask me if the pictures are difficult, of coarsely. if you believe the hamas propaganda we are just hitting innocent buildings. if we are hitting a structure it is because hamas is there. no one tells you that because they live in fear of hamas. they control the words and pictures from gaza. have you seen a single picture of a dead hamas fighter? 0f gaza. have you seen a single picture of a dead hamas fighter? of course not. have we only been targeting civilians? qt not. have we only been targeting civilians? . ., , not. have we only been targeting civilians? _, , ., ., civilians? of course not. let me ask ou about civilians? of course not. let me ask you about hamas _ civilians? of course not. let me ask you about hamas fighters. - civilians? of course not. let me ask you about hamas fighters. i - civilians? of course not. let me ask you about hamas fighters. i don't . you about hamas fighters. i don't want to get into an argument, i know what israel is saying about figures. in terms of the amount of hamas fighters israel says it has killed, the ministry said it was between 1000 and 10,000, and that 5000 figure has been talked about. how do you know that those other numbers of hamas militants you killed? {lime hamas militants you killed? once aaain ou hamas militants you killed? once again you don't — hamas militants you killed? once again you don't know— hamas militants you killed? once again you don't know for- hamas militants you killed? once again you don't know for sure. - hamas militants you killed? tc2 again you don't know for sure. when you destroy a tunnel, you don't know how many hamas were in there. we can only make approximations at this stage. we are careful with our numbers. unlike the hamas —controlled ministry of health you always putting out their numbers. in the documented cases we have have, the documented cases we have have, the famous incident of the hospital in the north where they said 500 people were killed, and in the end it was a fraction of that. hamas has a deliberate strategy to inflate the numbers of casualties, and everyone is a civilian... t numbers of casualties, and everyone is a civilian. . ._ is a civilian... i am asking about our is a civilian... i am asking about vourjudgment _ is a civilian... i am asking about yourjudgment about _ is a civilian... i am asking about yourjudgment about hamas - is a civilian... i am asking about - yourjudgment about hamas fighters your judgment about hamas fighters that you say you've killed. i am not talking about what officials are saying, i am asking what your intelligence is telling you. t can intelligence is telling you. i can tell ou intelligence is telling you. i can tell you we _ intelligence is telling you. i can tell you we have _ intelligence is telling you. i can tell you we have killed - intelligence is telling you. t can tell you we have killed thousands of hamas terrorists, and when the final numbers come out, when this war is over and behind is, numbers come out, when this war is overand behind is, i numbers come out, when this war is over and behind is, i believe our performance will compare very favourably with that western armies in comparable situations. don't judge us against perfection, we will always fall short. we don't want to see a single civilian or child caught up, and every person who has lost their life unnecessarily is a tragedy. if you compare us with western armies, you will find we compare well. let western armies, you will find we compare well-— western armies, you will find we comare well. . i. ., ., compare well. let me ask you another im ortant compare well. let me ask you another important question. _ compare well. let me ask you another important question. have _ compare well. let me ask you another important question. have you - compare well. let me ask you another important question. have you given i important question. have you given up important question. have you given up in terms of getting out the rest of the hostages? the negotiations have come to an end. you are pressing ahead with your military operations in the south. do you have any idea where those hostages are, and have you got any hope the military operation is going to release them? t military operation is going to release them?— military operation is going to release them? ~ , ., , release them? i think it is the only wa , release them? i think it is the only way, unfortunately. _ release them? i think it is the only way, unfortunately. hamas- release them? i think it is the only way, unfortunately. hamas is- release them? i think it is the only way, unfortunately. hamas is a i way, unfortunately. hamas is a brutal terrorist organisation which won't release the hostages because they realise it is against international humanitarian law. the negotiations did result in over 100... negotiations did result in over 100. .. n, ., negotiations did result in over 100... ., _, ., 100. .. matthew, how did you get that success? it was _ 100. .. matthew, how did you get that success? it was because _ 100. .. matthew, how did you get that success? it was because hamas - 100. .. matthew, how did you get that success? it was because hamas was l success? it was because hamas was facing massive pressure from the israeli defence forces, and they were desperate for a ceasefire. they understood the only way to have a pause in the fighting was to release hostages. by beefing up our pressure on them today, it is the best way to ensure the release or rescue of hostages favoured down the line. they won't release them because they've suddenly become humanitarians.— they've suddenly become humanitarians. . . ., humanitarians. that has to be clear. in terms humanitarians. that has to be clear. in terms of— humanitarians. that has to be clear. in terms of beefing _ humanitarians. that has to be clear. in terms of beefing up _ humanitarians. that has to be clear. in terms of beefing up your- in terms of beefing up your operations, what is the timeframe you are talking about? behind—the—scenes, all the reports suggest the americans are urging you to say you've got less time than perhaps you think you have. for israel perhaps you think you have. for israel this _ perhaps you think you have. for israel this is _ perhaps you think you have. tr?" israel this is a crucial issue. we have to get the job done and do it right. a ceasefire that leaves hamas in power is just a recipe for more fighting in the future. if you leave them in power, they say publicly they will do the october seven massacre again and again and again. a band—aid solution isjust massacre again and again and again. a band—aid solution is just that. massacre again and again and again. a band—aid solution isjust that. we have to have a new reality... [30 a band-aid solution isjust that. we have to have a new reality... do you acce -t have to have a new reality... do you accept you — have to have a new reality... do you accept you only _ have to have a new reality... do you accept you only have _ have to have a new reality... do you accept you only have weeks - have to have a new reality... do you accept you only have weeks to - accept you only have weeks to complete the military side, given the way the international community is responding? you have seen what is coming out of washington, the remarks from antony blinken. t coming out of washington, the remarks from antony blinken. i have been in meetings _ remarks from antony blinken. i have been in meetings with _ remarks from antony blinken. i have been in meetings with them - remarks from antony blinken. i have been in meetings with them and - remarks from antony blinken. i have been in meetings with them and i i been in meetings with them and i know what their position is. we ci to i have the right to defend ourselves and hamas can no longer be there and need to be removed. we will do it in a way which is in accordance with international law, where the response is proportional. we will distinguish between terrorist and the civilian population, who we are making a maximum effort to get them out of combat zones. taste maximum effort to get them out of combat zones-— maximum effort to get them out of combat zones. we have to leave it at that, but thank _ combat zones. we have to leave it at that, but thank you _ combat zones. we have to leave it at that, but thank you for _ combat zones. we have to leave it at that, but thank you for your - combat zones. we have to leave it at that, but thank you for your time. i that, but thank you for your time. thank you for having me. in israel, among the aspects of the october 7th attacks still emerging is the sexual violence — including rape — that took place that day. the proces sof gathering evidence is in itself traumatic — and there is anger that organisations like un women took so long so speak out about atrocities committed by hamas — and it would appear — other palestinians — on israelis live now to christina lamb chief foreign correspondent of the sunday times and author of "our bodies their battlefields: war through the lives of women." just a warning some of what we are likely to discuss will be graphic. thank you so much for being here on bbc news. you wrote a harrowing piece this weekend for the sunday times. just tell our viewers some of the things the eyewitnesses said to you about what happened on october seven, specifically about sexual violence and rape. t seven, specifically about sexual violence and rape.— violence and rape. i spoke to eyewitnesses _ violence and rape. i spoke to eyewitnesses who _ violence and rape. i spoke to eyewitnesses who had - violence and rape. i spoke to eyewitnesses who had been l violence and rape. i spoke to l eyewitnesses who had been at violence and rape. i spoke to - eyewitnesses who had been at the music festival, which was one of the places attacked, and while they were hiding and trying to escape, they witnessed young women being raped by hamas fighters, often by a number of them, so gang raped. ispoke hamas fighters, often by a number of them, so gang raped. i spoke to a first responder, people going and collecting all the bodies afterwards from the festival, and they talked about finding women's bodies with